Naturally SelectedUnderstanding the human animal in the workplacehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/
en-US30Sun, 08 Feb 2015 04:29:09 -0600Mon, 16 Feb 2015 01:46:13 -0600The Social Psychology of Radicalization and Extremismhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201502/the-social-psychology-radicalization-and-extremism
What causes young Muslims to radicalize and what should Western governments do to prevent it? Some relevant insights from social psychological theories of group polarization into radicalization and political extremism and some antidotes.Decision-MakingEnvironmentPersuasionPoliticsSensation-SeekingSocial NetworkingSport and Competitionhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201502/the-social-psychology-radicalization-and-extremism#comments1070838 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 08 Feb 2015 04:29:09 -0600Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Why Our Brains Are Hardwired for Conspiracy Theorieshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201412/why-our-brains-are-hardwired-conspiracy-theories
Why do we believe in conspiracy theories, why are they so persuasive, and how can we resist them? An evolutionary perspectiveAnxietyEnvironmentEvolutionary PsychologyFearInfidelityLeadershipMediaMotivationNeurosciencePersonalityPoliticsWisdomhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201412/why-our-brains-are-hardwired-conspiracy-theories#comments167505 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 29 Dec 2014 08:52:14 -0600Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.ISIS and the Real Reason Why Young Muslim Men Join the Jihadhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201409/isis-and-the-real-reason-why-young-muslim-men-join-the-jihad
IS(IS) attracts many young Western Muslim men to go and fight a war far away from home. But why? The reasons are psychological, and lie deep in our evolutionary history. So too are the solutions to this crisis.BiasEnvironmentGenderHormonesOxytocinPoliticsReligionSexSocial NetworkingSport and CompetitionSuicideTeamworkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201409/isis-and-the-real-reason-why-young-muslim-men-join-the-jihad#comments160145 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 20 Sep 2014 07:32:52 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Age and Leadership: The Wisdom of Elders and Elephantshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201408/age-and-leadership-the-wisdom-elders-and-elephants
In an era of change and innovation do businesses and societies still need older leaders or should they go for the young and bright? Understanding the relation between age and leadership.Animal BehaviorBiasCreativityEvolutionary PsychologyIntelligenceLeadershipPoliticsSocial NetworkingWisdomWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201408/age-and-leadership-the-wisdom-elders-and-elephants#comments158108 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 22 Aug 2014 03:59:01 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.The Downing of Plane MH17: A Personal Perspectivehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201408/the-downing-plane-mh17-personal-perspective
A personal perspective from the Netherlands on the MH17 plane disaster in the UkraineAngerDepressionEmpathyEthics and MoralityGriefLaw and CrimeLeadershipPoliticsResiliencehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201408/the-downing-plane-mh17-personal-perspective#comments156904 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 08 Aug 2014 09:45:14 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Watching the World Cup: The Tribal Psychology of Footballhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201406/watching-the-world-cup-the-tribal-psychology-football
Is the World Cup football in Brazil a ritualized form of primitive warfare? Is watching football good or bad for your physical and mental health? Why do football players attract so much sexual attention? Do the tribal colors the football teams wear at the World Cup predict their success? The World Cup in Brazil viewed through the lens of an evolutionary psychologistAnimal BehaviorBiasEducationEnvironmentEvolutionary PsychologyGenderHealthHormonesNeuroscienceReligionSexSport and CompetitionStressSuicideTeamworkTestosteronehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201406/watching-the-world-cup-the-tribal-psychology-football#comments152750 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 13 Jun 2014 10:34:04 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Does Putin Suffer From the Napoleon Complex?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201405/does-putin-suffer-the-napoleon-complex
Is there such a thing as the Napoleon Complex ? And does it apply to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his need for power?Animal BehaviorAppetiteLeadershipMatingPersonalityPoliticsWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201405/does-putin-suffer-the-napoleon-complex#comments150204 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 07 May 2014 13:54:42 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.The Wisdom of Crowds and the Search for Flight MH370https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201403/the-wisdom-crowds-and-the-search-flight-mh370
Can the Wisdom of Crowds effect be used to solve the mystery of Flight MH370? Are the masses more intelligent than the experts?Evolutionary PsychologyIntelligenceLeadershipPoliticsSocial NetworkingSport and CompetitionStressWisdomWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201403/the-wisdom-crowds-and-the-search-flight-mh370#comments146442 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 19 Mar 2014 04:22:11 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Coping with Status Loss: The Hidden Cost of Unemploymenthttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201401/coping-status-loss-the-hidden-cost-unemployment
Being unemployed affects your social status. The consequences of status loss for your mental and physical health are real, but underappreciated by society. I refer to the status-health association as the Titanic effect. As Europe still faces massive unemployment, it is time for policy makers to consider these risks to avoid another Titanic disaster.AttentionDepressionHealthNeurosciencePlaceboPsych CareersStressSuicideTeamworkWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201401/coping-status-loss-the-hidden-cost-unemployment#comments140947 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 02 Jan 2014 10:42:22 -0600Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.The Charismatic Appeal of Nelson Mandelahttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201312/the-charismatic-appeal-nelson-mandela
How do we explain the charismatic appeal of Nelson Mandela? His outstanding personal qualities made a difference. Yet his charismatic powers were primarily a reflection of the anxieties, needs and desires of his nation, South-Africa, and the world at large.CharismaChild DevelopmentEmpathyEnvironmentEvolutionary PsychologyForgivenessIntelligenceLeadershipMagical ThinkingMind ReadingPersonalityPoliticsRace and EthnicitySexhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201312/the-charismatic-appeal-nelson-mandela#comments139383 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 08 Dec 2013 05:13:05 -0600Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Does Green Improve Your Self-control?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201311/does-green-improve-your-self-control
Does nature improve self-control? Recent studies suggest that exposure to natural landscapes makes people less impulsive in their decision-making, whereas exposure to urban landscapes increases their impulsiveness. With the majority of the world now living in cities we must find creative ways to connect with nature, particularly for kids who struggle with self-control.AddictionChild DevelopmentCognitionEducationEnvironmentEvolutionary PsychologyHappinessNeuroscienceSelf-ControlTeamworkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201311/does-green-improve-your-self-control#comments136998 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 06 Nov 2013 03:18:47 -0600Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.The Talent Myth in Sports (Football) and Businesshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201309/the-talent-myth-in-sports-football-and-business
The talent myth suggests that star players do not neccessarily raise team performances. When there are too many stars in a team conflicts emerge and natural hierarchies disappear, This has huge implications for the effectiveness of teams in business and sports like football (soccer) where record fees are being paid to bring in star players.Behavioral EconomicsPersonalityPsych CareersSport and CompetitionTeamworkWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201309/the-talent-myth-in-sports-football-and-business#comments132590 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 04 Sep 2013 04:13:28 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Being Helpful at Work Pays...Quite Literally!https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201308/being-helpful-work-paysquite-literally
Being a good, prosocial employee pays off in the end: Research shows that individuals with a good reputation are preferred as co-workers. They even get a higher starting salary i a new job. So nice guys and girls get a head start in their working career.AltruismCareerEducationEnvironmentEvolutionary PsychologyHappinessPsych CareersTeamworkWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201308/being-helpful-work-paysquite-literally#comments131487 at http://psychologytoday.comTue, 20 Aug 2013 09:45:11 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.How the Myth of Self-interest Caused the Global Crisishttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201307/how-the-myth-self-interest-caused-the-global-crisis
The global financial crisis and the collapse of banks and businesses could have been prevented if we designed our firms and nations based on a sound understanding of human nature. So make way Homo Economicus!Behavioral EconomicsDeceptionEnvironmentEthics and MoralityHealthLeadershipSport and CompetitionSuicideTeamworkWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201307/how-the-myth-self-interest-caused-the-global-crisis#comments128709 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 10 Jul 2013 10:40:55 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.The Sound of a Leader: CEOs With Deep Voices Do Betterhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201306/the-sound-leader-ceos-deep-voices-do-better
Why do we prefer John as manager over Mary? Why does CEO Peter earn more money than CEO Matthew? The surprising answer is that their voice may have something to do with it.CharismaEvolutionary PsychologyGenderLeadershipPoliticsSport and CompetitionTeamworkTestosteroneWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201306/the-sound-leader-ceos-deep-voices-do-better#comments128012 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 28 Jun 2013 03:23:25 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Are There Good and Bad Names for Boys and Girls?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201306/are-there-good-and-bad-names-boys-and-girls
What's in a baby name? Should we name our son Thomas or Henry and should we name our daughter Lily or Allison? Baby names may reflect a desire among parents to have more masculine sons and more feminine daughters, according to the latest research.Animal BehaviorBiasChild DevelopmentEvolutionary PsychologyGenderParentingPersonalityScentSexSocial Networkinghttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201306/are-there-good-and-bad-names-boys-and-girls#comments127595 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 23 Jun 2013 04:44:29 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.5 Insights Into Female Leadership from Watching Borgenhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201306/5-insights-female-leadership-watching-borgen
There are many important lessons about leadership in works of fiction. The cult Scandinavian politics TV series Borgen is no exception. The main character is a woman, Birgitte Nyborg, the Prime Minister of Denmark. The series offer some great insights into female versus male leadership, perhaps with a sad conclusion.BiasCharismaLeadershipMemoryPoliticsSexStresshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201306/5-insights-female-leadership-watching-borgen#comments126092 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 02 Jun 2013 13:47:00 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Why Only Humans Weep: The Science Behind Our Tearshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201305/why-only-humans-weep-the-science-behind-our-tears
We all cry, but what are the biological and evolutionary functions behind the tears that we shed? Why are humans the only animal capable of producing tears when experiencing joy or sorrow? Here are some clues based on the latest scientific findings and the book and movie "Life of Pi."Animal BehaviorEnvironmentHappinessWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201305/why-only-humans-weep-the-science-behind-our-tears#comments124581 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 12 May 2013 06:57:27 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.What Do Your Eyes Tell About Your Leadership and Status?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201304/what-do-your-eyes-tell-about-your-leadership-and-status
New research shows that your leadership and status is determined by whether people look in the direction of where you are looking. Gaze following is an underappreciated contributor to leadership and followership in humans. Our estimate is that about 90% of your influence as a leader is determined by nonverbal cues like gazes, faces, gestures, and sounds.CognitionConsumer BehaviorEducationEmpathyGenderLeadershipMemoryNeurosciencePersonalitySport and CompetitionTeamworkWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201304/what-do-your-eyes-tell-about-your-leadership-and-status#comments122494 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 14 Apr 2013 06:39:05 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.5 Best Stone Age Parenting Practiceshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201303/5-best-stone-age-parenting-practices
As parents we often wonder what is the best way to raise our children. We should find out more about how families in traditional societies bring up their children because such societies may have evolved adaptive parenting styles. Here are some of the best practices of parenting the Stone Age way.EducationEthics and MoralityFreudian PsychologyParentingPunishmentSelf-HelpSexSleepSocial Learning TheorySport and Competitionhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201303/5-best-stone-age-parenting-practices#comments119941 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 08 Mar 2013 10:21:09 -0600Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.5 Reasons Why It Sucks to Have Powerhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201301/5-reasons-why-it-sucks-have-power
There is much psychological evidence to suggest that having power makes you less effective as a person, colleague, or a leader in business or politics. Here are the key scientific facts about power. So why do people crave power? It makes little sense according to the data. There is a Great Power Myth in our society.AlcoholDecision-MakingEmpathyEthics and MoralityFearHealthLeadershipPersonalityPersuasionPsychiatrySmokingSport and CompetitionTeamworkTestosteroneWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201301/5-reasons-why-it-sucks-have-power#comments116618 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 26 Jan 2013 10:30:56 -0600Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.5 Big Ideas About The Origins of Homosexualityhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201212/5-big-ideas-about-the-origins-homosexuality
New scientific insights show that homosexuality is a perfectly natural sexual orientation. Why homosexuality evolved in humans and what its functions are remains an open question. Here are some key biological hypotheses.AltruismAnimal BehaviorEnvironmentGenderGeneticsHealthIntelligencePersonalitySexSexual OrientationSocial Networkinghttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201212/5-big-ideas-about-the-origins-homosexuality#comments114503 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 29 Dec 2012 14:38:05 -0600Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Why Facebook Does Not Get You More Friendshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201212/why-facebook-does-not-get-you-more-friends
Facebook has not changed the way we interact with each other. We have no more true friendships in the Facebook era than we had before. This is because of the costs of maintaining friendships and the limits of our social brain.ExtroversionFriendsHappinessIntelligenceLaughterNeuroscienceNeuroticismPersonalityRelationshipsSocial NetworkingSport and CompetitionWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201212/why-facebook-does-not-get-you-more-friends#comments112791 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 09 Dec 2012 10:15:32 -0600Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.The Fluctuating Female Votehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201211/the-fluctuating-female-vote
New research suggests that woman’s voting and political preferences may be influenced where she is in her ovulatory cycle.Decision-MakingHappinessHormonesInfidelityOxytocinPoliticsRelationshipsReligionSexSocial NetworkingTestosteronehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201211/the-fluctuating-female-vote#comments110795 at http://psychologytoday.comTue, 13 Nov 2012 13:03:27 -0600Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Will Height Decide the 2012 Presidential Election?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201210/will-height-decide-the-2012-presidential-election-1
If all one needs to win a US presidential election is to be taller than one’s opponent, it will be an easy victory for Mitt Romney. But does height matter in predicting the outcome of US presidential elections?EnvironmentEvolutionary PsychologyHealthLeadershipPoliticsTeamworkWorkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201210/will-height-decide-the-2012-presidential-election-1#comments109172 at http://psychologytoday.comTue, 23 Oct 2012 03:27:10 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Laughter Really Is the Best Medicinehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201210/laughter-really-is-the-best-medicine
How does laughter affect your brain? A recent study suggests that laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the feel-good hormones, in the brain which makes you more resistant to pain.CareerEnvironmentHappinessHealthHumorLaughterNeurosciencePersonalityPsychopharmacologySexSocial NetworkingTeamworkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201210/laughter-really-is-the-best-medicine#comments107747 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 05 Oct 2012 07:28:38 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Should Leaders Show Emotion?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201208/should-leaders-show-emotion
Should leaders express their emotions in public? Psychological research suggests this is not a good idea because of the risk of being seen as emotionally unstable. But a positive emotion works better than a negative emotion provided the emotion is authentic.AngerCharismaFearHappinessLaughterLeadershipMediaNeuroticismPersonalityPoliticsSelf-Controlhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201208/should-leaders-show-emotion#comments105005 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 30 Aug 2012 06:01:14 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.What's Wrong with Social Psychology?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201207/whats-wrong-social-psychology
After the high profile case of social psychologist Diederik Stapel in August 2011, which I discussed in a previous blog, two further cases involving social psychologists were recently brought to light. What's wrong with our discipline and how can we repair it.AltruismBehavioral EconomicsCognitionConsumer BehaviorDeceptionDecision-MakingEducationEmpathyEnvironmentEthics and MoralityEvolutionary PsychologyGroupthinkNeuroscienceSelf-ControlTeamworkhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201207/whats-wrong-social-psychology#comments101723 at http://psychologytoday.comTue, 24 Jul 2012 09:36:25 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Nudging People to Go Greenhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201207/nudging-people-go-green
A guide for more sustainable living. How policy makers can nudge people to go green.BeautyBiasConsumer BehaviorEnvironmentEvolutionary PsychologyLaw and CrimePersuasionSexStresshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201207/nudging-people-go-green#comments100285 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 06 Jul 2012 09:41:40 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.Are We Hardwired to Damage the Environment?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201206/are-we-hardwired-damage-the-environment
This week's environmental summit in Rio should offer a roadmap towards a sustainable future for our planet. Research shows however that humans are not hardwired to be green. Only with a sound understanding of how the human mind works can we bring out enduring changes in our environmental behaviors.ConformityConsumer BehaviorEmpathyEnvironmentHabit FormationHappinessLeadershipNeurosciencePersonalityScenthttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201206/are-we-hardwired-damage-the-environment#comments98831 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 20 Jun 2012 03:37:27 -0500Naturally SelectedMark van Vugt Ph.D.